Residence Visa in the UAE: Guide for Expats and Investors

Are you about to apply for a permanent residence visa in the UAE?

Equipping yourself with relevant information about the UAE residence visa and domestic immigration framework is vital.

• Residence visa categories
• The UAE residence visa cost
• Prevailing regulations

Today, we invite you to explore the UAE residence visa landscape.

We facilitate UAE visa applicants with a well-informed approach to provide you with a seamless experience!

What Is a Residence Visa in the UAE?

“What is a residence visa in the UAE?” This is the most common question our clients ask us.

A residence visa in the UAE is your permit to live and work in the UAE. Applying for the resident visa (investment, business, work), the first step is determining the optimal stay scheme. This may be entrepreneurial activity (starting or buying a ready-made enterprise), employment in a local company, or investment in real estate.

Different grounds imply different requirements. For example, an investor must prove the availability of housing of minimal value, while an employee needs to provide a contract from a licensed organisation. This is also the place to decide whether it would be efficient to set up a company in the free zone or whether it would be easier to use the mainland registration format.

Purpose and Who Needs It

Although the Emirates has no direct income tax on the earnings of individuals, tax residency status takes on weight if the applicant intends to take advantage of double taxation avoidance agreements or to prove his or her connection to a particular jurisdiction to foreign financial and governmental institutions.

In turn, the processing of a tax resident visa in the United Arab Emirates presupposes the possession of a valid residence permit (resident visa) and fulfillment of several criteria, including actual presence in the country for at least 183 days per year.

The difference between a simple resident visa and a tax resident visa is that the first document gives the right to live and work in the country, while the second one implies the use of all the benefits of the local tax regime.

It is possible to stay in the UAE with a standard work or investment visa, but without the possibility to obtain an official certificate of tax residency.

Established federal laws and cabinet decisions (including the above-mentioned Federal Decree-Law No. 47 of 2022 and Cabinet Decision No. 85 of 2022) regulate the subtleties of the procedure for recognising a person as a resident.

Fiscal residency status in the UAE opens up a whole range of opportunities for business and personal financial planning, which is especially important for those who operate in several countries simultaneously.

The residency status in the UAE entails several obligations:

• Timely renewal of documents
• Payment of prescribed fees
• Compliance with the rules governing residence in the UAE
• Regular confirmation that the visa holder maintains economic ties with the state.

To better reflect the general structure of the legislative regulation and the list of criteria for recognition of fiscal status, it is convenient to use the scheme where the main parameters are indicated: the period of residence, the presence of business, and the resident’s obligations:

• At least 183 days per year (cumulative stay period in the UAE)
• Business, employment, property, or other sources of income
• Proof of rental or home ownership
• Certificate issued by the Federal Tax Administration

Learn more about relevant acts to avoid confusion in matters of registration and not to lose time on duplicate procedures.

UAE Residence Visa vs Tourist Visa

While a residence visa enables permanent residency, a tourist visa supports short-term travel.

A tourist visa, granted for a few days to several months, fits short-term travel purposes like leisure, short-term business trips, and tourism.

Tourist visas do not allow for a permanent stay or employment in the UAE.

A residence visa is for individuals pursuing a long-term stay in the country. Residence visa holders can live in the UAE and access diverse local services. Residence visas are effective from one to several years and can be prolonged.

Types of Residence Visas in the UAE

There are several types of residence visas in the UAE:

Employment visa

Not everyone wants to start their own business or invest large sums of money. For highly qualified specialists invited to large corporations or government agencies, the Employment Visa becomes a convenient way to live legally and subsequently obtain tax status in the Emirates. This format is issued by the employer directly, which removes some of the bureaucratic complexities from the applicant's shoulders.

Minimum salary and requirements for specialists:

• For highly qualified personnel, the threshold most often starts at AED 15,000 (about $4,000) per month.
• The candidate must pass a medical examination, confirm the absence of criminal records, and sign a formal employment contract.

Employment conditions:

• A 48-hour working week and one day off.
• The visa is valid during the contract duration or for several years and can be renewed afterwards.
• A candidate should permanently stay in the UAE.

Although this option excludes serious investment, foreign applicants should ensure that the company is a bona fide employer and is open to facing formal procedures.

Once the residency requirements are followed, 183 days of stay in the country a year, the employment visa is the grounds for further application for the tax residency certificate, annulled once the employment contract ends.

To maintain the status, find a new employer or apply for an alternative residency option.

Investor (partner) visa

The investor (partner) visa in the UAE provides a residence permit awarded to foreign citizens who engage in or create a business within the Emirates.

This visa category acknowledges the important contribution of such individuals to the UAE economy. In contrast to an employment visa, it is based on the investment itself and does not require employer sponsorship.

To obtain the investor (partner) visa, you should provide a particular amount of financial commitment in a UAE-based business, whether by a direct capital infusion or by owning a sizable portion in the operating company.

Granting investor (partner) visas, the UAE is committed to attracting foreign investment and fostering a thriving economy. Investors and entrepreneurs may set up their ventures and live in the UAE.

Family Sponsorship Visa

The family sponsorship visa enables the holders of a valid residence visa to sponsor their family members to reside in the UAE.

This staggering opportunity facilitates family reunions. Two major requirements should be met:

• A sponsor's minimum income
• The bond with family members

People over the age of 18 must normally apply through the appropriate immigration authorities, provide supporting papers, such as marriage and birth certificates, and pass medical fitness exams to complete the procedure. Usually, the sponsored family members' visas are connected to the sponsor's visa. The UAE places a high importance on preserving family ties, as this visa illustrates.

Freelancers, business owners, and other workers who cannot or do not choose to be invited by a local employer can apply for a green visa, a relatively new form of residency permission in the United Arab Emirates.

Those who intend to relocate their entire team or family are drawn to the Green Visa because it is valid for five years and permits unrestricted family relocation.

Basic terms and conditions:

• No local sponsor is required.
• Minimum income must be AED 360000 (approximately $98000) for the last two years or the corresponding figure at the time of application.
• The applicant must prove housing, insurance, and other elements of financial stability.

Advantages:

• Flexible format of activity: you can run your own business or work remotely for foreign customers.
• Possibility to apply for a visa for spouse, children, and even parents in some cases.
• If residency requirements are met and the centre of life interests in the UAE are demonstrated, tax residency with full personal income tax exemption can be claimed.

UAE green visa authorisation is well-suited for entrepreneurs working in several countries and looking for loyal conditions. The green visa allows you to stay legally in the state and take advantage of the local infrastructure without being hardwired for corporate sponsorship. In the long run, it opens pathways to official fiscal status and many other options related to banking and investment services.

Student visa

A student visa provides residency rights to foreign nationals accepted to the accredited UAE educational institutions.

Applicants should prove admission from the educational institution and a sufficient amount of funds to afford living and studying in the UAE.

Local educational institutions often sponsor the student's visa. Its duration is usually tied to the length of the academic program.

The student visa holders live in the country to study, though they are subject to employment restrictions.

Retirement visa

The UAE's retirement visa is a long-term residency permit intended to draw in and keep wealthy retirees who are 55 years of age or older.

Eligible people can spend their retirement years in the Emirates with this type of visa. To be eligible, candidates usually have to show that they have a particular amount of money saved, own real estate in the United Arab Emirates, or have a steady source of passive income.

The UAE's initiatives to diversify its population and take advantage of retirees' resources and experience are reflected in this project. The UAE might be chosen as a long-term retirement destination because the retirement visa often allows a renewable period of stay.

Blue residence visa UAE

The blue resident visa is a unique long-term residency permit offered to people who have shown extraordinary contributions to sustainability and environmental protection in the United Arab Emirates. It is normally valid for ten years and is renewable.

By drawing and keeping top talent from around the world in areas like climate change, renewable energy, and environmental preservation, this program demonstrates the UAE's dedication to its green strategy.

Distinguished influencers, scientists, researchers, investors, entrepreneurs, and professionals employed by environmental institutions who have significantly improved environmental sustainability are eligible for the blue visa.

Candidates may apply directly or through a nomination from the appropriate authority. For those committed to environmental concerns, this visa provides long-term stability so they can continue their meaningful work in the United Arab Emirates.

UAE residence visa process step-by-step

We’ll further dive deep into the UAE residence visa step-by-step process.

Entry permit and medical test

Once visa applicants adhere to the set requirements, the visa issuance process commences.

Upon arrival in the United Arab Emirates, visa candidates undergo a medical exam at an accredited medical facility. Then, visa pretenders apply for the UAE ID.

Emirates ID application

The residence visa issuance is followed by the application for an Emirates ID.

Candidates may opt for the online or physical procedure at a registration centre accredited by the Emirates Identity Authority (EIDA).

The necessary documentation includes:

• An original passport and a current visa.
• A recent photo the size of a passport
• During the registration procedure, biometric information such as a fingerprint and a photo will be collected.
• The candidates receive the Emirates ID card following a successful application.

Visa stamping and final issuance

To be sponsored by their family, the sponsoring resident must reach a specific salary criterion and provide verified proof.

The resident visa is stamped on the applicant's passport. In some cases, authorities may require a letter of acceptance from an educational establishment, certifications proving family bonds, or investment-related evidence.

UAE Residence Visa Number and What It Means

The UAE residence visa number identifies valid residence visa holders in the UAE.

The visa sticker contains the residence visa number, which is an official reference for contacts and government interactions.

All administrative procedures in the UAE require you to show your UAE residence visa number.

UAE Residence Visa Validity and Expiry Rules

Typical validity periods

The validity of UAE residency permits varies, depending on visa type and sponsorship:

• Sponsored visas are valid for one to three years.
• The validity of the dependent's visa is the same as the sponsor’s.
• Unsponsored visas assume longer validity, from five to ten years.
• Retirement visas last for five years.
• Student visas entail a one-year expiration date and are renewed during an active study period.

Grace period after expiry

This grace period may span from 30 to 180 days, depending on visa type. Once you know your grace timeline, you’ll avoid overstay fines.

The grace period follows the expiration of a residence visa. This means that its holder may renew their visa, get a new one, or leave the country’s territory legally.

Once the grace period expires, daily fines for illegal UAE residence are levied.

What happens if your visa expires

Once your visa expires, you cannot reside in the country legally.

Then the grace period commences, allowing you from 30 to 180 days to renew your visa, apply for the new one, or leave the country.

The fine imposed for each day of illegal stay in the UAE is AED 50.

Prolonged stay may cause adverse legal ramifications, like deportation and non-entry to the United Arab Emirates

You are now familiar with the visa expiry rules for UAE residents!

UAE residence visa renewal: new rules and costs

The new regulations for renewing a UAE residency visa require new medical testing, an Emirates ID application, and updated documentation.

The new rules for the UAE residence visa renewal foresee the renewal commencement before the expiration of your current visa.

To pass through a flawless application process, we recommend negotiating with authorised visa establishments or government officials.

When to start the renewal process

Start your visa renewal one to two months before your current visa expires.

This period will let you gather all the necessary documents, pass through medical tests, and complete the application process.

Required documents and steps

You’ll need the following documents to renew your UAE residency visa:

• Original passport
• A recent passport-sized photograph
• Emirates ID
• Medical fitness certificate.
• Copies of employment contracts
• A copy of the trade licence.

The resident visa renewal necessitates:

• Undergoing a medical examination
• Applying to the Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs, and Port Security (ICP) will help you renew your ID.

Residence visa renewal UAE cost

Conclusion

Considering multiple nuances of applying for the residence visa in the UAE, you are not alone on this journey.

Residence visa application, required documentation, supportive actions, and renewal aspects all imply deeper knowledge of the process and UAE visa expertise.

Our professional team of visa advisors is here to facilitate you at all stages of the process.

Get a free quote for expert advice on your path to UAE residency!